Tool for lifting and compressing springs



Feb, 23, 1932. BERKMAN 1,846,469

TOOL FOR LIFTING AND COMPRESSING SPRINGS Filed Aug. 7, '1929 STATS ATENT HERBERT A. IBEBKMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ZIIE BIANUFAGTURING COMPANY, A CQBPORATION OF ILLINOIS TOOL FOR LIF'EING AND Application filed August 7,

The present invention relates to tools employed in placing valves of internal combustion engines in position and removing them, and has for its object to produce a simple and novel tool by means of which the spring surrounding the valve stem may be lifted preparatory to removing the valve and by means of which the spring may afterwards be compressed at the time of placing the valve in position.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter he pointed out with particularity in the claims: but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a tool embodying the present invention, ready to be applied for the purpose of lifting a valve spring; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the arms of the tool spread apart and locked against closing, portions of the arms being broken away; 1* igs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts, respectively, in positions to engage a spring to compress the same and in closed and locked positions; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the work-engaging end of the tool; and Fig. 6 is a front end view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 are a pair of long arms hinged together at one end, as indicated at 3. The free ends of the arms are in the form of comparatively wide forks or aws 4c and 5, respectively. At the outer ends of the members of the upper jaw are narrow inwardly directed flanges 6, one on each side and in the vicinity of the lower edges of the said members. Similar flanges 7 are situated on the lower fork; these flanges being at the top of the fork members instead of at the bottom. However, the work-engaging ends may be shaped in any other suitable way to receive one end or a turn of the spring or a stationary part through which a valve stem passes.

On each of the arms, at a considerable distance from the hinged end, and preferably near the free end, is a pivot pin or fulcrum,

GOMIPRESSING SPRINGS 1952 Serial No. 384,132.

these being indicated at 9 and 10. Co-oper- ,ating with these pins, is a lever 11 adapted and act on the other pin or fulcrum in the manner of a cam; whereby the arms may be spread apart. and locked against closing or may be partially closed and be held against opening. In the arrangement shown, the lever has therein two long, narrow, oppositely curved slots 12 and 13 respectively. The two slots approach each other at one end, whereas theyare spaced a considerable distance apart at the other end. The pin or fulcrum 9 extends into or lies in the slot 12, and the pin or fulcrum 1O co-operates with the slot 13. The slot- 12 has at the end nearest the other slot a seat 14 formed by widening the slot outwardly. The end of the slot 13 farthest from the slot 12 has a seat 15 produced by widening the slot inwardly or upwardly. About midway between the ends of the slot 13 is a second seat 16, formed by abruptly widening the slot in an outward or downward direction.

In Fig. 1 the tool is shown closed, the pivot pins lyingin the ends of the slots nearest each other. If now the lever be swung in the clock-wise direction about the pin 9, the inner bounding edge of the slot 13 will act as a cam on the pin 10 so as to force the latter in the direction away from the pin 9 and cause the arms of the tool to spread. When the lever has been swung as far as it will go, as indicated in Fig. 2, bringing the pin 10 into the opposite end of the slot 13 from that in "which it originally lay, the pin 10 will drop into the seat 15, andlock the arms against closing movements. Consequently, if the jaw 5 was placed on a stationary part of the engine structure and the jaw 6 was engaged with the lower end of a spring or a coil of a spring, with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1; a spreading of the arms to bring about the condition shown in Fig. 2 resulted in the lifting of the spring, and in looking it in its lifted position until released by the swinging movement of the lever in a counter clock-wise direction. 1

In order to permit the spring, which. is to be positioned in the engine, to be placed in the tool preparatory to compressing the same, the lever is shifted until the pin 10 rests in the notch or seat 16 as indicated in Fig. 3; the lever being then turned to b ing the pin 9 into the end of the slot 12 farthermost removed from the slot 13. The spring may now be set between the flanges on the upper and lower jaws. Then, upon swinging the lever in a. clock-wise direction, about the pin 10 as a fulcrum, the bounding edge of the slot 12 along the upper or outer side of the slot 19. serves as a cam to pull the pin 9 downwardly toward the pin 10; thus closing the tool and compressing the spring. hen the lever has been swung as far as it will go, as shown in Fig. 4-, the pin 9 will drop into the notch or seat 14, causing the tool to be locked so that the arms cannot spread apart again until the lever is swung back in a counter clock-wise direction.

I have shown each arm as being made of two pieces spaced apart so as to receive the lever between them, each pivot pin or fulcrun'i serving as a connecting piece between the two members of the corresponding arm; but these details may be widely varied. In fact, while I have illustrated and described only a single preferred arrangement, I do not wish to be limited to the structural details as illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements that come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device the character described, two long arms hinged together at one end, a pivot pin on each arm parallel with the hinge axis and at a considerable distance therefrom, and a lever, said lever having therein two slots in each of which one of said pins lies; said slots being so shaped that upon using one of the pins as a fulcrum and swinging the lever the arms are spread apart and locked against closing, while upon using the other pin as the fulcrum and swinging the lever in the same direction as before the arms are closed and locked against spreading.

2. In a device of the character described, two long arms hinged together at one end, a pivot pin near the free end of each arm and parallel with the hinge axis of said arm, and an operating lever, said lever having therein two long oppositely curved slots in each of which one of the pivot pins lies, said slots being closer together at one end than at the other end, one of the slot-s having a seat for the corresponding pin at the end nearest the other slot and on the outer side, and the other slot having two seats for the corresponding pin, one of the latter seats being between the ends of the slot and on the outer side and the other seat being on the inner side of the slot and at the end farthest removed from the other slot.

neaaaee 3. In combination, a plurality of members each having an element adapted to serve at times as a fulcrum, and a cam device cooperating with said elements, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the cam device may be moved upon any one of said elements as a fulcrum and simultaneously actuate another of said elements to produce a relative movement between said members.

a. In a device of the character described, two arms hinged together at one end, a lever provided with cam slots, and a plurality of fulcrums on the arms engaged in the slots and connecting the arms together at some distance from the hinge.

5. In a device of the character described, two long arms hinged together at one end, a pivot pin on each arm at a considerable distance from said end, a lever engaged with said pivot pins and adapted to swing about either as a center while making sliding con tact with the other.

6. In a device of the character described, two long arms hinged together, a pivot pin on each arm at a considerable distance from the hinge joint, a lever, elements on. the lever engaged with both pivot pins, each element having therein a seat to receive the corresponding pin and permit the lever to swing about the same as a center, and each element being adapted to have sliding contact with the corresponding pivot pin while the lever is swinging about the other pin as a center, and said elements being constructed and arranged to permit said arms to be locked against closing after having been spread apart, and also be locked against spreadina after having been moved toward each other.

In testimony whereof, I sign this spccili cation.

HERBERT A. BERKMAN. 

